Former Calhoun County 911 dispatcher sentenced to probation

A former Calhoun County 911 Emergency Dispatcher was sentenced Friday after entering pleas to felony drug possession and obstruction of justice.

Heather Wilkins, 28, of Ceresco was placed on two years probation and ordered to enroll in Women's Drug Court when she appeared before Circuit Court Judge Sarah Lincoln.

Heather Wilkins(Photo: Trace Christenson/The Enquirer)

In March Wilkins pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to illegally possess narcotics.

"You clearly have a problem with the misuse or abuse of controlled substances," Lincoln told Wilkins. "There are medical conditions that you suffer from where the use of controlled substances would be an appropriate treatment but it is clear from your behavior, which is the behavior of an addict, that your use has gone beyond therapeutic use."

Wilkins admitted she had obtained drugs, including Oxycodone and Hydrocodone from several people.

She also admitted she took a call while working as a 911 operator for the Calhoun Consolidated Dispatch Authority in Marshall from a man who had a warrant. She told the man about the warrant and warned him that officers were enroute to his location and that he should leave.

"It may not seem fair to hold you to a higher standard," Lincoln said. "But what you have done here is a significant violation of the public trust."